Significance of Divine year
The concept of Divine year encompasses various interpretations across different texts, highlighting its significance as a measure of time in spiritual contexts. Divine year often equates one divine year to 360 human years, emphasizing the extensive durations within divine realms. This measure signifies the time associated with significant spiritual events, penances, and the cosmic cycles affecting divine beings. Ultimately, it represents a temporal framework that profoundly impacts understanding of spiritual practices and the nature of divine existence, contrasting with ordinary human time.
Synonyms: Sacred year, Celestial year, Heavenly year
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Hindu concept of 'Divine year'
The Divine year in Hinduism represents an extensive measure of time, equivalent to three hundred sixty human years, used to denote significant celestial events, penance durations, and the vastness of divine existence beyond human temporal experiences.
From: Devi Bhagavata Purana
(1) Units of time in the text signifying a long duration during which Madhavi and Dharmadhvaja enjoyed each other's company.[1] (2) A mythological measure of time representing the scale of time in the spiritual realm, distinct from earthly years.[2] (3) A temporal measure used in the cosmology of Hinduism indicating a lengthy period of divine existence or action.[3]
From: Vishnu Purana
(1) A measure of time used to quantify esoteric periods, denoting the scale and development of cosmic and societal patterns.[4] (2) A period measured according to divine standards, during which significant events, like battles between gods and demons, take place.[5] (3) A time duration equivalent to a specific number of mortal days, used in the context of Yugas or ages.[6]
From: Brihaddharma Purana (abridged)
(1) A period that is equivalent to three hundred and sixty human years.[7] (2) A full duration of time devoted to austerities by Aditi before the appearance of the Lord.[8]
From: Markandeya Purana
(1) Refers to the unique temporal measurements used in the divine realm, distinguishing them from the conventional understanding of time.[9]
From: Thirty minor Upanishads
(1) A period of time associated with divine beings or principles, here referring to the twelve years the sage spent in penance.[10] (2) The period the egg remained before splitting and resulting in the creation of the Earth and the cosmos.[11]
From: Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story)
(1) A unit of time where one divine year equals 360 human years.[12]
From: Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi
(1) A reference to a measurement of time that is considered greater or more expansive than ordinary years.[13]
The concept of Divine year in local and regional sources
The keyphrase "Divine year" refers to a specific time period consisting of 12 units, equating to one "pitrya-varsha," or ancestral year, according to regional sources that emphasize its significance in ancestral traditions.
From: History of Science in South Asia
(1) This is a year, where 12 of these equal one pitrya-varsha (ancestral year).[14]